(Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman announced Tuesday that his extended absence was a result of a need to address his mental health.

The 35-year-old defenseman missed the Lightning's final 15 games of the regular season and all seven contests in a first-round playoff loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

'Over the past couple of months, I made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health,' Hedman said in a statement released by the Lightning. 'It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.

'I've always believed that being a leader means doing what's best for the team. In this case, it also meant doing what was necessary to take care of myself, so I can be the best player, teammate, husband and father I expect to be.'Hedman hasn't played since exiting in the first period of Tampa Bay's 6-2 road win versus the Vancouver Canucks on March 19 due to illness. Six days later, the Lightning announced he was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.

'Obviously, after that first period in Vancouver, that was the final straw,' he told reporters Tuesday. 'So, it's something that's been going on for a long time. I went through ways to get around it, but I wasn't able to do that. So that's where the decision came that I needed to take some time.'

Hedman also addressed his message to people dealing with mental health issues.

'Just don't stick with your thoughts,' he said. 'There are a lot of people out there that can help you and that's what I found out. And like I said, it's never too late, either.'

Hedman, 35, recorded 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 33 games this season. He endured extended absences due to an undisclosed injury in November and elbow surgery in December.

Hedman is a 2017-18 Norris Trophy winner as the best defenseman in the league, a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2020, 2021) and the 2020 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient as the playoff MVP.

The Sweden native has totaled 811 career points (172 goals, 639 assists), a plus-192 rating and 782 penalty minutes in 1,164 games since being selected by the Lightning with the second overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.

--Field Level Media